Dear Friends in Christ:
I have directed the pastors in parishes that are located in “purple tier” counties to offer Mass and provide to the Faithful the opportunity to attend virtually, either by live-steaming or other visual technology starting this Sunday, November 15, 2020, the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time. Pastors presently offering Mass outdoors may continue to do so, weather permitting.
[Purple tier counties include Sacramento, San Diego, Stanislaus, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, Monterey, Tulare, Madera, Sonoma, Tehama and Shasta counties.]
This is a heartbreaking decision. My brother priests and many parishioners have worked very hard to provide safe, responsible, outdoor and indoor environments for the Faithful to praise God and receive the sacraments. I am confident that the protocols in place have significantly reduced the risk of infection from the coronavirus and influenza in Catholic churches throughout the Diocese.
Unfortunately, due to lack of diligence in other social sectors, the rates of Covid-19 infection are surging to dangerous levels. Even our own efforts will not be enough to safeguard the most vulnerable members of our community. For this reason, in the “purple tier” counties, Mass, indoors, is to be offered with no more than 10 people physically present and then be provided to the Faithful through the virtual mediums available.
Pastors have been asked to provide sufficient opportunity to receive the Eucharist in outdoor spaces following transmissions of the Mass offered. These times should be advertised so that the Faithful can conveniently approach the reception of the Eucharist daily. These opportunities should be proximate to the times when Mass is offered and then extended as needed (minimum one hour). The priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister of the Eucharist will follow the usual public health protocols for the distribution of communion.
Under these extraordinary circumstances, all efforts should be made to provide due reverence for the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist and a respectful disposition for those who approach the Sacrament.
Some pastors, due to their particular pastoral circumstances, may elect to provide the so-called “drive-in” protocol for those wishing to attend the Sacrifice of the Mass. This protocol allows the Faithful to attend while in their cars as Mass is offered outdoors in public view. Communion is then distributed at the proper time by the minister going to each car individually. This option will be permitted on an experimental basis until Sunday, January 3, 2021.
Catholics in the Diocese of Sacramento are still dispensed from attending Sunday Mass. They may keep holy the Lord’s Day by attending Mass through the internet or other media as well as practicing other religious devotions.
Priests are urged to offer a sufficient number of Masses on Sundays and during the week for the faithful to participate safely and with peace of mind. Regularly scheduled occasions for confession should be offered at least weekly. We will remain keenly attentive to the pastoral needs of the sick and the homebound….
The above comes from a Nov. 13 message from the Diocese of Sacramento.
What a complete joke.
Cases ≠ deaths.
Viruses do what viruses do.
Since the Infection Fatality Rate (IFR) of this disease, according to the CDC and WHO, lies somewhere between 0.1% and 0.01%, similar to many influenza strains, this clearly is not an “extraordinary circumstance”.
Morgues are not overflowing.
Bodies aren’t piling up in the streets.
His Excellency’s edicts, therefore, are as unjust as Governor Newsom’s (if not worse).
Mr. Bll, you are correct that viruses do what viruses do: they kill people. You are wrong to equate the covid-19 to the normal seasonal yearly flu. The data says otherwise. Morgues are overflowing across the country, with cities and counties bringing refrigerated trucks to store the dead, otherwise they would be piling up. Hospitals across the country are overwhelmed with cases of the virus. Nurses and doctors are tired beyond reasonable expectations. Some are quitting because they can’t handle, emotionally, the number of people who die under their care. Last week cases grew by 100,000 per day and deaths are averaging 8,000 per week. Millions of people around the world are dying, and yet people in the US still deny that there is a pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of people are dying in the US and yet people deny that there is a problem. There are even some who believe that the herd immunity approach is the best approach, even the White House. That would result in about two million deaths. But, what they hey?
Bob One and & YFC will not be happy until this country is locked FOR YEARS.. they are enjoying this despotic display of power in the name of scamdemic. Bob One Morgues ARE NOT overflowing because covid and neither are hospitals. It is my conclusion that the center will not hold and it is best the country and the Church separate from each other,. We dont like each other and dont believe each its best we just we go are different ways are it will come to war. BTW Bob One these lock downs will not stop other excuses will be used by the ruling elite to demoralize the citizens of this country
MrBill I’m sorry but CDC and WHO do not estimate case fatality rates anywhere close to what you say. CFR is over 1% in first world countries, at least ten times that of the flu, and among the elderly who sit in our pews, the case fatality rate is about 5%.
Why does Bishop not stand up to politicians. If now is not time to call religious leaders “essentil” there is not any other time I can think of that would be classed as such. The faithful needs the Mass and more community right now…more than just on electronic devices. I do frrl Bishop is a joke.
Instead of sheepishly depriving us faithful of the Divine Liturgy in person, why not challenge government artificial “tiers” and their imposition upon us by elite leaders? Bishops, you don’t have to please the leaders. You have to honor almighty God. Outdoor Mass in some place has greater risk of pneumonia than the Wuhan virus. Give us Christ in person in our churches as He gave Himself to His apostles at the Last Supper in the Cenacle. Think outside the box into which the democrats have boxed you, and throw away the box into which you box us faithful every Sunday. We want in person Mass.
You don’t catch pneumonia from being outdoors, Father. You catch pneumonia from viruses and bacteria that you contract from other people with whom you are in close contact. Please don’t practice medicine online.
While I agree that Mass is not the problem, and I do not believe that Mass indoors is dangerous, as Pastor of a large parish near Los Angeles I have directed the construction of a large tent with lots of seating, two daily Masses, five Sunday Masses and Confessions every Saturday and Baptisms as needed. We also have a place where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed 24/7.
We’ve had no problems except for the wind messing things up about 10 days ago. But we got that fixed.
It’s my tiny opinion that inside the Church is just as safe. But I’m not in charge of the Archdiocese.
Thank you for listening Fr. Higgins, to those who are specially trained to study pandemics and especially this virus, and for providing circumstances for your faithful to hear the Word and celebrate the Sacrament. Here are some resources you might find helpful:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/faith-based.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/08/us/coronavirus-churches-outbreaks.html
Father Higgins I have been attending Mass indoors in another state since June even though I have health issues. Social distancing & masks are required & I haven’t heard of any new cases. I counted close to 50 people last week. I believe over reaction is more dangerous.
Thank you Bishop Soto for your helpful and wise guidance! Uniting together in a safe manner we will get through this horrible pandemic which has been so grossly mismanaged by our nation’s leaders. May God continue to bless you in your episcopal ministry.
You wear your political party affiliation on your sleeve. Sheesh.
Thank you Bishop Soto for demonstrating responsible leadership. This virus has an overall infection fatality rate of about 1.15% in countries like ours, so it is important we prevent infections to the greatest extent possible. And as we know, our Catholic population skews towards the elderly, where the infection fatality rate is around 5% for the severely aged. https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20201030/covid-19-infection-fatality-ratio-is-about-one-point-15-percent
You are too into control YFC. You can stay home hiding from life, stop trying to make me play by your arbitrary rules. Man up cupcake.
Fresh Hell Unleashed: Thanks for the kind advice. I’m just trying to save lives. I thought that was a good thing, no?
I’d be interested to know how you chose your pseudonym. Sounds scary and mildly threatening.
Better to try saving souls, we all know how to take care of ourselves without interference from you or government apparatchiks. Fresh Hell Unleashed is what you and other faux Catholics have done by voting for Biden and I want you reminded of it, a lot.
How do you know for whom I voted? And I am a government apparatchik? That’s news to me!!
Fresh Hell Unleashed, you can’t save souls by disobeying the Lord. You are violating the precepts taught by Jesus in the sermon on the Mount and those taught by the Holy Spirit through St. Paul.
YFC Then go stand outside an abortion death camp where innocent girls/boys are sucked out of their mother’s womb or dismembered to death & help those confused mother’s choose life for their child & avoid the heartache of living with this for the rest of their lives.
Ronnie, there is more than one way to save lives. Did you say to the first responders on 9\11 that they should abandon their posts and go to the abortion clinic instead?
YFC As a relative of a First Responder on 9-11 I am offended by your comments, Over-reaction will get people killed and I repeat that this is an attempt to shut down our worship in God.
FHU – I suspect we know who you are, a regular poster on this site who changed names post election. I recognize the venom.
Demons said that to Jesus, Luke 4:34: “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” Jesus knows who you are, Dona and hiding behind a Latin moniker fools no one.
Sorry I forgot the other link: https://nyti.ms/2UAb35L
That says it all!
People who are pro-life wear masks when they leave the house and are around other people who are not part of their household. Wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing your hands often are not political statements but efforts to reduce the spread of a virus until we have at least 50%+ of our citizens vaccinated. It is also an effort to minimize the number of patients in ICU in hospitals. God says we should love our neighbor as ourselves. People who don’t wear masks must not love themselves very much. Perhaps they should seek counseling to help deal with the lack of self-esteem?
I’m pro life and I’ll breathe God’s clean air while you sport that nasty face burka.
The Left here still doesn’t seem to get it. Why are stores open and casinos, some gyms, demonstrations, but Churches which are essential for the soul closed? I’m afraid this is nothing more than Satan using this virus to shut people off from our Lord and our salvation.
Because more outbreaks been traced to churches. See my above link. And it’s not a left vs right thing. It’s a life thing.
Speaking produces ten times as many particles as simply breathing. Singing and shouting produce fifty times as many particles. Being inside is 11 times more dangerous than the same activities outside.
Before you go off on me, I’m on record here as saying the restrictions on Churches has been too harsh. Limits of ten people inside St Marys Cathedral in SF is absurd. Ten people inside a small chapel is not. Limiting outside Masses to 50 socially distanced and masked people is too harsh. 50 people outside but close together unmasked is highly dangerous.
The NYT fake news link? I’m afraid you’re being duped!
Oh, I see it all now. Pro-Death kill
the kids right up to birth, son of Pontus Pilate, Mario, who washed his hands of the blood of the innocents while governor before him & supported the crowds right to choose. The son follows in his father’s footsteps! This anti-life Andrew now caims the Churches are the culprits, with his renamed European virus (not China), for the spread of the virus. You can’t make this stuff up
YFC I believe you’re not saving lives but furthering hysterical & irrational policies which could kill more people. How many people didn’t have their operations or cancer treatments because they were so fearful? And let’s not forget those not being able to receive the sacraments which could save their souls. Or baptisms, weddings, funerals,? I believe that this unprecedented discrimination against religious instructions is an agenda from the Left.
Ronnie’s right again, deal with it, cupcake.
Ronnie, we know the answers to those questions when we see that excess deaths during these 8 months are all attributable to those who died of COVID. But beyond that, I have not proposed policies, except mostly to ask people to take personal responsibility. Besides which, I am not aware of any prohibition against the celebration of the sacraments. It’s just the celebration of sacraments INDOORS which has been prohibited, and even then, it has most of this time only been a prohibition on the number in attendance at the indoor services. And there certainly is no prohibition against religious instruction.
A quarter million Americans have died of this coronavirus so far this year. What is your solution to keep that number from doubling or tripling?
YFC is too busy protecting his “right” to marry a man, that he cannot even see the Light of Truth. He is so blinded that instead of telling young homosexual men, and some heterosexuals “Don’t sodomize it will kill you”, especially since those with HIV die faster from COVID, ” he keeps blaming churches.
He is the same person who wanted to open the bathhouse, again, after so many young men died in them in the last HIV epidemic, instead of taking Joseph Sciambra’s advice and remaining chaste, he keeps on doing the same old thing and expecting different results. That, my friends, is a definition of insanity.
How could you possibly know all this about YFC ? Please review your catechism regarding slander and gossip.
He has been posting on here for a long, long, long time, and so have I. He said years ago that he believed in the right to marry someone of the same sex, and has never said otherwise since that I have seen. Also he should well know that more COVID is traced to churches as they are one of the very few places where one has to sign that they were there. One does not have to sign up when one enters the grocery store, the craft store, push the button on the gas pumps and on and on. Those people could have just as well gotten it someplace else.
And YFC’s “yes, buts” every time we try to defend life in the womb or the traditional two parent heterosexual family shows his true colors. His “yes, buts about the Constitutionality of a law, his “yes, buts’ on opening churches, his “yes, buts” on the opening the homosexual bathhouses. They all give him away.
If he is being chaste and is encouraging chastity in others, he would not have wanted the bathhouses open.
Purple Haze 2.0
to the tune of America the Beautiful:
“….. for purple counties’ travesties
per Gavin”s fruity claims ….”